9 Decades of Aquatic and Academic Excellence

Heritage Project Powers Champions Campaign Into Fast Lane

THANK YOU! WE DID IT! We exceeded our $75,000 goal for the Heritage Project fundraising thanks to the generosity of connected, engaged Fenn/CSU swimming and diving friends and alumni. We’ve now raised over $250,000 for The Robert F. Busbey Champions Campaign and have the funds to complete the project and finish Viking Strong.

In 2009, Wally and I set out to connect with the many former Fenn College / CSU Swimmers and Divers who fondly remember the formative experience we all had, under Bob Busbey and Wally, as athletes, students and young people. The idea of the Champions Campaign was simple: bring The Robert F. Busbey Natatorium back into Championship form and cement, literally and figuratively, 9 decades of swimming and diving heritage in the pool.

Raising over a quarter million dollars has allowed us to make a big impact. Key basic infrastructure improvements were completed in the first phase of the Champions Campaign during 2011 — our new video display and record boards as well as a new paint job and filtration system installed in the pool.

We should all be Viking Proud! What started as a project to rally our teammates in support of much-needed pool improvements has evolved into a growing sense of community shared with over 500 fellow swimming and diving alumni. For example:

Over 150 alumni made donations to the Champions Program, many giving more than once.

Over 45% of our alumni have “given back” to CSU for aquatics, athletics or their college one or more times.

For any program – not least a public university without a strong history of giving – our participation statistics were terrific!

Your contributions of time and money will result in a platform to provide continued growth for the Cleveland State University Swimming and Diving Program. To provide student athletes with best-in-class education while building character and providing them with life-long support from hundreds of alumni who’ve clearly demonstrated a special “Team is Forever” connection with all swimmers and divers – past, present and future.

Wally and I are hugely proud of your support. Let’s keep building that community.

Stay connected as we continue to gather pictures, stories and history-making events that will be shared with athletes, visitors and coaches in The Robert F. Busbey Natatorium and worldwide via the CSU Swimming and Diving Heritage Website.